Chair's Welcome
Welcome to the Department of Criminal Justice, one of the largest undergraduate programs at UNLV. As a criminal justice student, you will study all aspects of crime and society's reaction to crime through law, policing, courts, and correctional institutions from our excellent faculty. You will also gain experience through research opportunities and educational activities both inside and outside the classroom.
Learn From Top Faculty
The Criminal Justice Department is interdisciplinary in nature and our faculty members hold doctorates in everything from criminal justice and sociology to psychology and law. They have also gained national and international reputations for their expertise and engagement in a variety of research, teaching, and service activities.
Gain Experience Through Independent Study Projects
You may want to work closely with faculty on independent study projects and gain firsthand experience examining criminal justice issues. These projects with faculty expose you to intensive mentoring and help you develop an in-depth knowledge of a specific subject matter. As a result of this close interaction, faculty are better equipped to write letters of recommendation for you as you pursue graduate or professional studies or as you seek employment in agencies that require background checks.
Work in the Community
Further in-depth knowledge of criminal justice is gained through our internship program. Internships open doors for you as you build mutually beneficial relationships with the community and gain invaluable experience working in law-enforcement agencies such as the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the District Attorney's Office, State and Federal Probation and Parole Departments, the local juvenile justice system, and various social service agencies.
Within these agencies, our students have performed a wide variety of tasks, including sitting in on court cases, compiling data for ongoing research projects, going on ride-alongs with the police department, field experiences with probation and parole officers, observing dispatch workers handle calls from citizens, contacting the victims of crime, and many others.
Get Involved on Campus
Many students also participate in criminal justice-oriented activities as members of Alpha Phi Sigma, the National Criminal Justice Honor Society.
Students in Alpha Phi Sigma get the opportunity to tour a number of local criminal justice agencies and participate in community activities such as graffiti cleanups, clothing drives, and other local service events.
Conduct Research on Real-World Issues
As a student, you can participate in research projects funded by the Center for the Analysis of Crime Statistics — the statistical analysis center for Nevada, which serves as a clearinghouse for state and local crime and justice data and provides a comprehensive picture of crime and justice in Nevada.
The center provides funding to faculty and students to conduct policy-oriented research on a range of topics of concern to state and local policymakers and criminal justice practitioners.
As you continue your pursuits, please browse through the pages of our website and contact us for any assistance we can provide.
Joel D. Lieberman, Ph.D.
Chair and Associate Professor
